Copyright Registration in Malaysia

Intellectual Property is a type of property that broadly
speaking consists of creations of the mind. Briefly intellectual property can
be further sub classified into patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs
and Geographical indications. Each of these categories refers to different sets
of protection or rights that can be granted towards respective intellectual
creations. These rights grant the owner the chance to control the use or
selling or production or distribution of the protected item or process.

In Malaysia, a creator of the original work automatically
holds the right to it. There is a little need for having this as a
registration; however it is advisable to get the registration as it will help
with establishing concrete evidence of ownership and the timeline which
ultimately helps with enforcing the rights. In case copyright has been applied
for by a representative of the original creator in Malaysia, an additional
documentation is required along with its relevant charges. However if it has
been applied for by the original creator, there will be no requirement for an
additional documentation or the relevant charges for the same.

The official website of the Intellectual Property of
Malaysia is very descriptive and helps not only businesses but also individuals
with no prior understanding of the process. The website lists what is eligible
to be copyrighted, what the copyright rights entails for the applicant, the
duration of the copyright protection etc.

For instance, copyright protection on a literary, musical or
artistic work generally last for the life of the author and 50 years post the
death of the author or creator of the work. For broadcasts, protection is
considered from the date of when the first broadcast was made (wire or wireless
means) up to a period of 50 years.

One can also find a detailed explanation in terms of broad
categories of rights (Legal, Economic and moral). These categories enlist the
rights available to the creator of the copyright work. Legal rights pertain to
the enforcement aspect of the protection by civil or criminal prosecution.
Economic rights point to the financial aspect by allowing the owner to derive
financial gain from the user infringing upon his rights. Lastly, Moral rights
allow for the owner to claim the originality of his work and additionally also
protects the owner by prohibiting users from distorting or modifying the
original work which in turn can cause harm to the reputation of the creator or
even misrepresentation of the original work. Additionally, the websites lists some
general situations which can be considered as infringements of rights under the
Copyright Act (1987) in Malaysia.

These modules of information readily available in today’s
world embolden and empower individual or businesses trying to enter into
Malaysia. Apart from these information modules, one can also easily refer the
official website for subsequent charges/fees that might be incurred, along with
a flow chart representation of the process of the registration or applying for
a copyright and a checklist for a smoother experience.

The readily available information helps with creating a
basic frame of reference and information that can be made use of by the business
or individuals looking for a copyright protection. This also does shed light on
the importance of ensuring that individual creators/businesses are aware of the
necessity of these protections and how to go about acquiring them. Another lesson
to be understood and inculcated here is the importance of copyright as an asset
which can be used to further revenue for businesses or individuals.